Peony List

According to some estimates, there are over 3,000 cultivated varieties of peony. I'm not going to list all of them (although a fairly comprehensive list is available at Carsten Burkhardt's Web Project Paeonia). Instead, my listing (of just over 100 varieties) attempts to include the majority of popular peony varieties, as well as a few rarer ones that I personally like.

Each entry has a photo, the name of the cultivar, and a list of pertinent information, as follows:

biological description (e.g. whether it is a hybrid or a Paeonia lactifolia cultivar)

who originated the cultivar and when (e.g. Roger F. Anderson, 1986)

flower form (e.g. single, double, semi-double, and so forth)

colour

flowering season (e.g. early, midseason, or late, with respect to peony blooming time)

height

if it is floriferous (i.e. has side buds)

if it is fragrant

The entry concludes with some more detailed information about the variety (for example, the derivation of the name, awards won, and uses). The entries are in alphabetical order, arranged by the name of the variety. Finally, for explanations of the botanical terms used, please see the Glossary provided.

Beautiful, and striking flowers: cream, buff or apricot blossoms, with raspberry flares at the base of each petal, surrounding a centre of yellow stamens; strong stems  no staking needed; doesn't do well under water stress; good for the garden, exhibition, and as a cut flower; rather rare and difficult to find (Photo courtesy of Les Jardins Osiris )

The name refers to a strongly perfumed oil used in cosmetics which is derived from roses; as the name implies, this peony has a wonderful intense rose fragrance; large, vivid rose pink blossoms, which may have a few golden stamens sprinkled throughout; flowering side buds extend the bloom period; good, dark green foliage; tall peony  best when staked; fairly rare and difficult to find (Photo courtesy of peonygarden.com)

Large, rose form, pale blush pink flowers, which quickly fade to pure white; mild rose fragrance; vigorous, free-flowering plant; excellent deep green foliage; good stems, but staking may be needed; good garden plant and cut flower; said to open even better in a vase with water than when left on the bush (Photo courtesy of Hollingsworth Peony Nursery
)

Awarded the 2006 Gold Medal for excellence by the American Peony Society; one of the most popular intersectional hybrids available; has fluffy, lemon yellow flowers; centre petals show red flares at their base; blooms are very large  up to 10" (25 cm) in diameter; blossoming side buds extend flowering season to three, or even four, weeks; lovely lemon fragrance; prolific, strong, symmetrical plant  no staking needed; lovely, deeply cut, dark green foliage; excellent garden plant and cut flower (Photo courtesy of Adelman Peony Gardens)

Flowers are deep, old rose red colour; delicious, sweet fragrance; so tall that it stands over most other peonies; however, stiff, reddish stems hold flowers erect, so that no staking is needed; fine foliage; very good in warmer climates; good cut flower; usually quite inexpensive (Photo courtesy of Adelman Peony Gardens)

One of the most popular and famous herbaceous peonies availabe, because of its striking beauty: fuchsia rose guard petals surround a mound of pale lemon yellow staminodes; huge blossoms can reach up to 12" (30 cm) in diameter; good, green foliage; sturdy stems  rarely needs staking; usually quite inexpensive; note: nobody agrees on the flowering date of this peony  I have seen it described as early, early midseason, midseason, late midseason, and late!
(Photo courtesy of Elysium Garden Nursery)

Two rows of large, pure white petals surround a centre of narrow, pointed petaloids, which are either very pale yellow or creamy white; numerous side buds prolong the flowering period; flowers held well above the foliage by sturdy, wiry stems  staking not needed (Photo courtesy of Peonies Plus)

Also known as "Butterbowl"; obviously named for the huge, buttery yellow centre set inside a wide fan of rose-pink petals, which fade gradually to shell pink; vigorous, reliable, and free flowering plant; good cut flower (Photo courtesy of Peonies Plus)

Also spelled "Charlie White", "Charley's White", and "Charle's White"; huge, classic, elegantly formed, pure white flowers illuminated by a golden glow at the base of the petals; good fragrance; tall, vigorous plant; durable foliage; tall, strong stems; good for the back of the perennial border; one of the very best peonies for cut flowers; also good for drying(Photo courtesy of Peonies Plus)

Named for the teacher of a one room schoolhouse; blossoms have a bright rose pink centre and outer petals, with a cream collar around the middle; some pink petals have hairline edging of red; delicious fragrance; dark strong stems; excellent garden plant and good cut flower (Photo courtesy of peonygarden.com)

Winner of the American Peony Society Gold Medal in 1986; Grand Champion peony in 2003; numerous, large flowers of antique rose form are a rich apricot coral, which fades to a soft peach shade; very tall, vigorous plant; good garden plant and great cut flower (Photo courtesy of Adelman Peony Gardens)

Also known as "Coral and Gold"; a double row of large, cup-shaped, rose-coral petals form a bowl around a centre of feathery golden yellow stamens; looks something like a poppy; bred by Mr. Lyman Cousins of Ontario and subsequently registered with the American Peony Society by Roy Klehm; vigorous plant; staking not needed; outstanding in flower arrangments (Photo courtesy of Hollingsworth Peony Nursery
)

Blossoms are a fine, deep claret red; may be semi-double and double on same bush; light green foliage; very sturdy plant with stiff stems  no staking needed; good garden plant, but fairly rare and hard to find(Photo courtesy of Elysium Garden Nursery)

Also known as "Alexander Fleming", "Dr. Alex Fleming", "Docteur Alexander Fleming", and "Dr. Alexander Flemming"; named for Sir Alexander Fleming (1881 - 1955), the British scientist who discovered penicillin; the originator of this peony is unclear: some sources say it was developed in England, others in France, and still others in The Netherlands (by Blonk before 1950); in any case, it's a very popular peony in Europe and North America, known particularly for its sweet fragrance; has large, bright pink flowers, which fade to a paler pink towards the edges; the large number of side buds extend the blooming season; outstanding cut flower (Photo courtesy of peonygarden.com)

Also known as "Duchess de Nemours"; another peony which has been deservedly popular for over 150 years; produces lots of medium-sized, creamy white flowers with light canary yellow in the centre, and shadings of green at the base of the petals; fades to pure white; glorious sweet fragrance; dependable bloomer; excellent light green foliage; very good cut flower; usually quite inexpensive(Photo courtesy of Elysium Garden Nursery)

This peony was introduced in 1824; the fact that it's still very popular tells you that it has a lot going for it; the flower has a variety of shades of deep and light pinks; the notched petals have silver edges; one of the most fragrant peonies available  has the scent of old fashioned roses; extremely floriferous; very reliable plant, with excellent foliage; good garden or cut flower; should be staked; usually quite inexpensive (Photo courtesy of Les Jardins Osiris )

Winner of the Royal Horticultural Society Award of Garden Merit; has numerous, large, lustrous, raspberry red flowers, having a wide collar of guard petals and a tightly-packed "bomb" form centre; dependable variety, which is quite drought-resistant; good cut flower; usually requires staking(Photo courtesy of Elysium Garden Nursery)

Cupped, scarlet blossoms with very wide petals, and a centre of golden stamens; in sandy soil, the colour may be closer to a deep coral pink; vigorous, bush which grows quickly to a large clump with numerous flowers; abundant, glossy green foliage; strong stems  doesn't need staking; great garden plant and good cut flower(Photo courtesy of Elysium Garden Nursery)

Exceptionally showy; cerise pink outer guard petals, with a centre of light shell-pink and creamy white petaloids; numerous blooms per plant, but none very large  to dramatically increase size of blossoms, pinch off side buds while they are still only pea-sized; vigorous, nicely-shaped bush; light green foliage; strong stems  no staking needed; great cut flower(Photo courtesy of Elysium Garden Nursery)

Also known as "Gilbert Wild"; huge, rose-form flowers of pale rose-pink with paler pink edges; over time these fade to an almost pure white; combination of flowers opening at different rates on one bush gives a lovely pink and white effect; good, dark green foliage; stiff, red-mottled stems; staking may or may not be needed  depends on location in garden; relatively rare and difficult to find (Photo courtesy of Reilly's Country Gardens ; copyright Phil Reilly)

Blend of rose-red and apricot yellow; yellow gradually fades to cream on up upper part of petals; lower part stays red; bush with a combination of many blooms in different stages gives a spectacular effect; long blooming season; vigorous bush; graceful, tropical-looking, dark green foliage; great garden plant (Photo courtesy of Les Jardins Osiris )

Flower opens cherry red colour, which fades gradually toward an orange salmon, and finally become of a mixture of cream and pale rose; all three colours may be seen at the same time; has a small heart of gold and red stamens; dark green foliage; flowers are carried well above the foliage on long, firm stems  no staking needed; good garden and cut flower; can be expensive, but the colours are spectacular (Photo courtesy of Adelman Peony Gardens)

Considered by many to be the best red double; produces lots of flowers of a loose semi-rose form; large, intense cherry red blooms, with notched petal tips; some golden stamens showing through; lush foliage; may need staking; good garden and cut flower variety; dries well; usually quite inexpensive(Photo courtesy of Elysium Garden Nursery)

This is probably the finest of all the white singles; flowers are large and numerous; open a delicate pink, but soon become a pure, translucent white; petals are large and crinkled like crepe paper; small tuft of golden stamens in the centre; stands up well in the rain; light green foliage; strong, slender stems  seldom needs staking; excellent cut flower; usually quite inexpensive(Photo courtesy of Elysium Garden Nursery)

This peony is also known as "Lady Alexander Duff" and "Lady A. Duff"; it was named for Lady Alexandra Duff (1891-1959), who was the daughter of Princess Louise of Wales and the Duke of Fife, whose family name was Duff. She was named for her grandmother Queen Alexandra, wife of King Edward VII; she was only 11 when Kelway named this peony for her. It has very large, fluffy mauve pink double flowers which lighten to blush or cream in the centre; the numerous saucer-shaped side blossoms are generally semi-double; alluring fragrance; vigorous, with abundant foliage and strong stems; an heirloom variety which is generally quite inexpensive (Photo courtesy of Les Jardins Osiris )

Cup-shaped, rich, rose-coloured petals surround a centre of butter-yellow staminodes, which are streaked pink; floriferous with three to four side-buds, and, thus, long flowering; vigorous, and stands well  staking not needed; little affected by rain (Photo courtesy of Hollingsworth Peony Nursery
)

"Le cygne" is French for "the swan"; the broad, overlapping, curved petals are reminiscent of the feathers on the wings of a swan; very large, rose-form ivory blooms which fade to pure white; large-leafed foliage and strong stems; elegant form  one of the most perfect double white peonies; stunning cut flower (Photo courtesy of peonygarden.com)

Also known as "Mme. Jules Dessert"; rose-form, blush-coloured blossoms showing golden stamens; centre is usually a trifle pinker than the rest of the flower, and always bears a few inconspicuous crimson marks; fades to creamy white; so floriferous that there seem to be more flowers than leaves visible; beautiful foliage; may need staking (Photo courtesy of PlantenTuin Esveld)

This peony is actually somewhere between a loose double and a semi-double; stunning, velvety, deep red flowers with prominent golden stamens intermingled in the petals; red, wiry stem; best when staked (Photo courtesy of Omeo Peonies)

Large, cup-shaped blossoms of intense dark red, which resist fading; looks like a single, but is actually a Japanese form with very small thick yellow staminodes; light green foliage; good garden or cut flower; no staking needed (Photo courtesy of Hollingsworth Peony Nursery
)

This peony won the American Peony Society Gold Medal in 2007. The medium-sized blossoms are an intense, rosy scarlet; the plant is vigorous and prolific; produces abundant flowers, on erect stems; foliage is slightly ruffled; cut buds do very well in cool storage, even after several weeks; blossoms last for a long time in a vase; excellent for floral arrangements(Photo courtesy of Hollingsworth Peony Nursery
)

Has enormous flowers which can be up to 12" (30 cm) in diameter; blossoms are a bright cerise rose pink with shading to silvery shell pink at the petal edges; light green, narrow foliage; plant is very tall and sturdy; superb cut flower, and also a good garden flower (Photo courtesy of peonygarden.com)

Variety was introduced to the U.S.A. by the Japanese exhibit at the Chicago World's Fair in 1893. Extremely impressive, tall plant; wavy ruffled petals of dark rosy crimson; a centre of thick staminodes, which are dark rose red, edged and tipped in gold; considered one of the very best red peonies of its type; abundant lush green foliage, erect stems; very decorative garden plant (Photo courtesy of Hollingsworth Peony Nursery
)

This peony has twice won the American Peony Society's Gold Medal: 1956 & 1971. Blush pink buds open to large, cupped, pure white flowers with a centre of golden stamens; this is the standard for semi-double whites; lots of side buds help extend the bloom period; good garden or cut flower; especially good for more southerly areas(Photo courtesy of Elysium Garden Nursery)

Also known as "Mr. Ed"; very unusual peony which can bloom either rose pink, cream blush, or a combination of the two colours; blossoms are large and have a light, sweet fragrance; vigorous grower with tall strong stems; good cut flower (Photo courtesy of Adelman Peony Gardens)

Also known as: "'Mons. Jules Elie" or "Msr. Jules Elie"; huge, chrysanthemum-like, silvery rose-pink blooms; this heirloom classic has been popular for over one hundred years, but is quite inexpensive; one of the very best cut flowers; may need staking(Photo courtesy of Blossom Hill Nursery)

Winner of the American Peony Society Gold Medal in 1993. Very large, perfectly-formed flowers composed of creamy white petals with a faint blush; occasionally show a hint of magenta red on the edges of the petals; very dependable bloomer; wide-leafed bush; best when staked(Photo courtesy of Elysium Garden Nursery)

Also known as "Mrs. Ed Harding"; named for peony enthusiast and gardening author Alice Harding (wife of lawyer Edward Harding); beautiful flower of perfect form and delicate lacy quality; golden yellow stamens visible through many densely-packed white petals; good dark green foliage; best when staked (Photo courtesy of peonygarden.com)

Medium height plant bearing many blossoms; large cupped flowers of pale pink with rays of deeper pink spreading through the flower; petals are incurved and slightly waxy; lasts well in a vase (Photo courtesy of Peonies Plus)

Large, full, rose-form blossoms; pastel salmon-pink colour, which gradually fades to almost a pure white; one of the most fragrant peonies  has the fragrance of a tea rose; blossoms are held well above the foliage; best when staked (Photo courtesy of Peonies Plus)

Large, deep rose-pink blossoms, which fade to a silvery pink; when fully open central tuft of golden stamens and deep rose stigmas is visible; flowers are placed near the foliage; great landscape variety; sturdy bush  no staking needed; produces so many flowers that foliage is almost hidden(Photo courtesy of Hollingsworth Peony Nursery)

Two time winner of the American Peony Society Gold Medal: 1941 & 1972; very large, rose-form blossom; before opening, buds show carmine-red streaks; newly-opened blooms are a soft pink which quickly fades to white; may show red flecks or streaks on some petals; vigorous and very reliable bloomer; best when staked; good foliage; exceptional cut flower; outstandingly beautiful peony (Photo courtesy of Hollingworth Peony Nursery)

Large, velvety ruby red flowers; side buds open quickly, so that each stem becomes a small bouquet by itself; resists fading; one of the finest double red peonies currently available; best when staked(Photo courtesy of Elysium Garden Nursery)

Winner of the gold medal from the American Peony Society in 2000; rose-form blossom; notched petals, a wonderful rose-coral colour with with yellow stamens peeking through the centre; over time, the colour gradually fades to a very light coral, almost cream; good foliage and excellent stem strength  no staking required; excellent garden flower or cut flower(Photo courtesy of Elysium Garden Nursery)

Named with the permission of Her Royal Highness, Princess Margaret, and of Her Majesty, the Queen Mother, Queen Elizabeth; enormous, beautifully-formed, deep rich rose-pink flower; good foliage, and strong stems, but best when staked; excellent cut flower (Photo courtesy of Peonies Plus)

This peony won the American Peony Society Gold Medal in 1956; huge, perfectly formed ball of deep crimson with a multitude of waxy petals; this is the standard against which all other red hybrid peonies are judged; tall, strong stems; excellent foliage(Photo courtesy of Elysium Garden Nursery)

Named for the famous Victorian actress; huge blossoms with apple-blossom pink petals, that are silver-tipped, and often have carmine red flecks; reliable and easy to grow; tall bush, which needs staking; handsome deep green foliage; great cut flower; inexpensive; a classic for over a hundred years, and deservedly so(Photo courtesy of Elysium Garden Nursery)

Also spelled "Seashell"; this peony won the American Peony Society Gold Medal in 1990; one of the most admired single pink peonies; numerous large, bright, satiny pink blossoms with a centre of yellow stamens; upright, vigorous bush with strong stems; excellent cut flower(Photo courtesy of Elysium Garden Nursery)

Very large flowers - up to 8" (20 cm) in diameter; pink buds open to light rose-pink petals which fade to translucent, creamy white; petals are arranged in whorls - very delicate appearance; good stem strength; lovely garden and cut flowers; usually quite inexpensive(Photo courtesy of Elysium Garden Nursery)

Gorgeous huge flower; striking combination of bright, warm pink guard petals surrounding a centre of creamy yellow petaloids; as the plant matures the Japanese form goes to a full anemone and even to double; dark green foliage growing well down (Photo courtesy of Hollingsworth Peony Nursery
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Large creamy white blossoms, suffused with buff and pale salmon pink; open slowly, not fully developed for several days; vigorous, old-fashioned variety, good for cut flowers (Photo courtesy of Buck Canyon Gardens)

A beautiful, compact flower; pale cream-white at the base grading to apple-blossom pink in the centre; requires time to develop to its best form; needs support in the garden. Intoxicating fragrance! (Photo courtesy of peonygarden.com)

Striking, intense and very full shell-pink flowers, but may fade in hot sunshine; good stems and foliage; inexpensive, and deservedly popular for over a hundred years
(Photo courtesy of Hidden Springs Flower Farm)

This peony won the American Peony Society Gold Medal in 1974; burgundy-red outer petals surround a striking center of mixed red, gold, and white; large, very showy, with strong stems, and has a delightful fragrance (Photo courtesy of Adelman Peony Gardens)

This peony won the American Peony Society Gold Medal in 1982; the flowers are quite large; the outer, guard petals are a beautiful shade of orchid pink while the centre is a buttery yellow; stems are sturdy, but may require staking in some locations; nice broad, spreading bush (Photo courtesy of Elysium Garden Nursery)

Flowers have lots of petals; the centres are usualy yellow, but may also be white; stands upright, so doesn't need staking; has a delightful fragrance
(Photo courtesy of Reilly's Country Gardens ; copyright Phil Reilly)

Has very large flowers, up to 12" (30 cm) in diameter; buds open with purple streaks on the outside that quickly fade to pure white; nice centre of deep yellow stamens; leaves are a dark, glossy green; has nice, sturdy stems (Photo courtesy of Elysium Garden Nursery)